Into the Light (The Light, #1)(109)

I looked in his direction, my gaze scanning his large muscular frame. Whatever he had for Father Gabriel wasn’t a payment. Actual money never changed hands. Untraceable overseas accounts kept people like Brother Noah at the Northern Light extremely busy. The billion-dollar operation had the whole checks-and-balances accountability thing happening. It involved accountants from all three campuses. That was the one part of the business I’d yet to learn. As far as Father Gabriel and The Light were concerned, money handling wasn’t my thing, nor was accounting. I was first and foremost a pilot.

Brother Reuben reached inside his jacket, suspiciously close to his gun, and paused. The dramatization was for effect. I was the new kid in this assignment and no doubt was being tested at every turn. I nodded with a cocky grin, letting him know I didn’t fall for his ploy, all the while praying he wouldn’t shoot me before I made it back to Sara. Finally he removed an envelope from his jacket and handed it to me. The outside simply read Father.

“Thank you, Brother Reuben,” I said as I took the envelope and turned back to Brother Michael. “Brother, is there anything else you’d like me to pass along to Father Gabriel?”

“No, everything appears in order.” He stepped forward and patted my shoulder, sharing a grin of amusement at my reaction to Brother Reuben’s show. “I believe this will work well. Father Gabriel’s judgment has not been proven wrong yet. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

“Thank you, Brother, I’m honored to have been chosen.”

“As you should. You’ve reached an honorable level within The Light in a short time. Keeping our chosen with us and productive is our goal. To that end, my brother, have you seen the forecast? It’s been changing by the hour. Perhaps it would be better if you chose to stay here until tomorrow. Northern Light is a far journey.”

I smiled respectfully, hoping the new vibration of my phone would continue to go unnoticed. “Thank you. My flight plan has me landing at Lone Hawk for the night. I won’t be heading back to the Northern Light until morning.” I wasn’t sure if his invitation was another test, but my flight plans were set and clear. Even with a small plane, it was best to have records of arrivals and departures. Lone Hawk was one of my favorite airports, privately owned with few questions asked. Even so, I’d never land my plane there with a full load of product. Once I landed, I planned to buy supplies. I wasn’t looking for anything to draw attention, only normal living-type stuff, things to make my stop believable. Besides, it didn’t make sense to fly back to the Northern Light in an empty plane.

I checked my watch.

Yes, right on schedule.

“Very well, Brother, safe travels.”

Once I completed my preflight checklist and was in the air, I checked my phone. It hadn’t vibrated since I’d spoken with Brother Michael, and due to the recording device in the plane, I wouldn’t be able to return a call until I landed at Lone Hawk. Above all, I didn’t want to risk anyone from the Western Light questioning my ethics.

When the screen came to life my pulse quickened. I’d missed one call from Brother Benjamin’s phone and five from a burner phone.

Shit!

After the incident with Brother Timothy and Sister Lilith, I’d set up an emergency chain of communication. The long and short of it was that I was simply gone from the Northern Light too much. Even if Father Gabriel believed that the entire episode with Brother Timothy and Sister Lilith had added to Sara’s eventual success, I refused to allow anything like that to blindside me again. While having a wife increased my risks, with this system, I increased my odds. It was a gamble, but I believed Sister Raquel would help, if necessary.

According to the screen, it was time to cash in the chips.

Once I had the Cessna secured on Lone Hawk’s tarmac, I searched for the manager, Jerry. He was a quiet man, friendly in an unobtrusive sort of way. I made my way back to a small apartment area near the back of the hangar. I didn’t know if he lived there all the time, or just when he was working. Either way, I was happy when he answered my knock.

“Jacob, I saw your approved arrival on the CBP e-mail. Welcome back to the big city of Whitefish.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I have some business in town and was hoping you had that truck here I could borrow. I’ll bring it back in the morning, promise.”

“No. Sorry. That piece of shit has seen better days.” His furrowed his weathered brow. “But I’ll tell you what, my old lady’s Chevy Tahoe is sitting out back. She ain’t going nowhere tonight. Besides, I’ve got my new truck if she needs a ride. You’re welcome to take the Tahoe into Whitefish.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I owe you.”

“Next time you’re here, you can bring me some of that Preserve the Light jelly. The old lady goes nuts for that stuff.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promised, taking the keys he handed me and heading toward the beat-up Tahoe.

If Raquel had used that burner phone, it meant only one thing: trouble, serious trouble. As we’d agreed, I could answer a burner only with a burner.

Before checking into the cheap hotel, I stopped at a gas station and purchased two burners. Something in my gut told me one wouldn’t be enough. Once in the hotel room, I plugged them both in and recalled the telephone number I’d hoped I’d never need to call. I waited for the ringing to stop. Once it did, I asked, “Raquel?”